Abu Dhabi Harlequins assistant coach Scott Clark says every player wants another bite at capital city rivals Saracens after Ali Thompson’s team claimed a historic first ever win over their neighbours last month.
Sarries’ 10-6 triumph was the first time they had beaten Quins in their four-year history.
The win marked a turning point for Sarries, with them since launching a superb run of wins and emerging as many people’s favourites for this year’s GT6 title.
Another win on Friday would seriously damage Quins own challenge and their hopes for a treble after winning both the Premiership and Dubai Sevens.
Sarries and Doha are threatening to streak clear in the race to finish inside the top two of the GT6, but Quins are the one remaining side who have a realistic chance of preventing that.
“The boys have been a little bit quiet in training so far this week but we know we have a chance to make the final,” said Clark.
“With a few bonus point wins we will be up there and there certainly won’t be any problems with motivation this week with it being the derby.
“Everyone wants another shot at Saracens, we want to improve on that home performance.”
Quins head to Al Ghazal after a 32-21 loss to Doha last week, but buoyed by the fact they almost fought back from a 32-3 half-time deficit.
DOHA V DUBAI HURRICANES
Ross Mills says his Dubai Hurricanes will throw caution to the wind against in-form Doha and are travelling to Qatar with no pressure on them at all.
Canes ended a four-game losing sequence last week with a narrow 28-26 triumph over Bahrain at 7he Sevens, completing the double over the winless western Gulf side.
Mills, however, knows his players face an altogether tougher task this Friday, claiming his mind has already switched to next season after initial promise turned to bitter disappointment.
“We’re going to go there and ping the ball about and go for it,” said the Canes coach.
“It’s a chance to go and prove ourselves against one of the best teams in the Gulf at the moment."
After back to back wins over Jebel Ali Dragons and Abu Dhabi Harlequins buried the memory of their sole defeat to Saracens, Doha are back on track, although coach Aaron Palmer says he is only focused on Canes.
“We never know who can make each game week by week so that restricts us looking beyond the next game,” he said.
“We are at home so it becomes vital that we win and stay within reach of Sarries. Quins and Canes could still both force their way into finals contention too so we need to shut Canes out this week.
JEBEL ALI V BAHRAIN
Jebel Ali Dragons player/coach Murray Strang could miss the rest of the Gulf Top Six season with
injury, but what he admits will really hurt is being stuck watching on the sidelines this Friday.
The Scotsman is clinging to hope that he may still make it off the treatment table in time for Dragons’ final game in four weeks’ time after he was forced out of last week’s 39-3 loss to Abu Dhabi Saracens by a late hit from Sarries’ lock Lehan Koekemoer.
To add insult to injury the giant South African went on to score the visitors’ final try.
Under doctors orders to keep his arm in a sling for the next two weeks, Strang is at least thankful there is no serious damage.
“There’s no fracture, it’s just muscle damage,” said the fly-half.
Fellow player/coach Sean Crombie also hobbled off in the defeat to the GT6 leaders, but he is set to feature as Dragons welcome plucky but winless Bahrain to the Centre of Excellence.
“It’s nice for Sean and I to be influencing things on the pitch even if we’ve struggled to work out which works best this season,” admitted Strang. “I’ll be there screaming from the sidelines and we need to get back on track – nothing but a win will suffice this weekend.” Graham Braybrook will replace Strang at 10 while centre Nick de Haas returns after he was shown a red card in Bahrain in the reverse fixture. In the back row, Dragons are boosted by the return of Phil Cronin and Joe Cooper.
